Jadeja swells India's lead to 71 runs (Lunch Report)

Mohali, Nov 28 (IANS) Leftie all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja produced a career best Test score of an unbeaten 70 to pull India to 354/7 in their first innings, giving them a vital 71-run lead, at lunch of the third day of the third Test match here on Monday.

England scored 283 runs in their first innings.

Resuming at 270/6, Jadeja's highest Test score pulled India to a sizeable lead. India scored 84 runs from 30 overs in the morning session of the play losing only a wicket.

Jadeja was supported during the first session by Jayant Jadav unbeaten 26. Together they put on a crucial and unconquered 53-run eighth-wicket partnership.

The only wicket to fall for India in Monday's first session was Ravichandran Ashwin's (72), who was caught by Jos Butler off the bowling of Ben Stokes.

The Ashwin-Jadeja partnership began the proceedings sedately and safely guided India past the 300-run mark.

But Ashwin perished just after, in the 95th over, with the score at 301, trying to drive only managing a thick edge that was lapped up at point by Butler.

England didn't look like breaking the Ashwin-Jadeja pair, but a moment's mistake ended their seventh-wicket association at 97 runs.